Blues can’t open the Gate to extend run!

After three wins on the spin on home soil Nelson’s run was finally brought to an end by Squires Gate in midweek.

The Admirals were unbeaten at Victoria Park in 2016, having accumulated 10 points from four fixtures, but Danny Penswick’s side halted that progression with three goals in eight second half minutes.

The Blues had initially jumped into mid-table following an impressive 3-2 win over Runcorn Town on Lomeshaye Way on Saturday.

Adam Nuttall gave the hosts the lead within two minutes of the North West Counties Premier Division fixture, latching on to Ryan Charnley’s incisive pass and sliding the ball past goalkeeper Dan Lever.

After the Gate stopper prevented Charnley from extending the home side’s lead, his opposite number Sean Davis was called in to action when his fine fingertip save foiled Mark Keddie as the defender capitalised on Nelson’s failure to clear their lines from Town’s set-piece.

A moment of indecision from the match official later in the half sparked controversy as Davis’s challenge on striker Paul Shanley was initially penalised and the visitors were awarded a spot kick.

However, on review after consulting his assistant, the referee overturned his own decision and gave a goal kick.

While Town were still reeling from that reversal, Paul Fildes’s men broke and hit their opponents with a cruel suckerpunch.

Will Threlkeld’s terrific touchline trickery worked the opening and the winger squared the ball to Bradley Wicks who had the simple task of tapping home from close range.

After the interval, both Nuttall and Wicks spurned chances to further extend Nelson’s lead. And they were made to pay the price when Chris Lawton pulled a goal back following a goalmouth scramble.

Substitute Wayne Morrison, who had earlier replaced Charnley, almost restored the two-goal cushion with his first touch but the striker headed narrowly over from Waqas Azam’s delivery.